.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Pos Malaysia, Pertamina win inaugural Energy Asia Awards
Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025
By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Petronas President and Group CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, who is also Chairman of Energy Asia, (left) presenting the Eureka Award to a representative of Pos Malaysia. KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia and Indonesia's Pertamina have been named the inaugural winners of the Energy Asia Awards, in recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to the region's energy transition. Held in conjunction with the Energy Asia 2025 conference hosted by Petronas, the awards carry the theme 'Delivering Asia's Energy Transition' and honour individuals and organisations that are accelerating the region's shift towards a low-carbon, inclusive, and sustainable energy future.
Advertisement The Eureka Award, which celebrates technological innovation advancing measurable decarbonisation and environmental goals, was presented to Pos Malaysia for its flagship initiative, Greening the Last Mile: Pos Malaysia's Sustainability Transformation. The ambitious programme aims to cut emissions by half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Built around a data-driven, sustainable logistics ecosystem, the project integrates decarbonisation, community upliftment, and workforce empowerment. Meanwhile, the Trailblazer Award, which recognises inclusive energy solutions that empower communities and promote social equity, was awarded to Pertamina for its Desa Energi Berdikari (Energy-Independent Village) project. The Indonesian initiative promotes decentralised clean energy systems that address waste management, energy access, and carbon emissions, while advancing rural electrification and inclusive development across the country's villages. Both projects highlight tangible, scalable solutions that cross borders and demonstrate how lower-carbon, affordable, and accessible energy can be delivered equitably. The winners exemplify the spirit of innovation and collaboration essential for a just and inclusive energy transition. Their commitment to responsible and sustainable practices sets a high benchmark for the industry, with lasting impact on communities across Asia. The inaugural edition of the Energy Asia Awards attracted more than 150 submissions from 20 countries, showcasing a broad spectrum of purpose-driven and scalable initiatives across various industries. Each submission underwent a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation by a distinguished panel comprising industry leaders, sustainability advocates, and technical experts. Entries were assessed based on innovation, impact, sustainability, and scalability, with transparency and excellence embedded in the judging process. Following a comprehensive review and a final pitch session involving six shortlisted finalists, the judging panel selected the two winning initiatives. Moving forward, the Energy Asia Awards are set to become a cornerstone of the conference, reinforcing the region's commitment to championing practical, impactful solutions that secure Asia's energy future while advancing equity and sustainability. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Govt has no plans for single REE entity to regulate industry
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no plans to establish a single entity akin to Petronas to regulate the rare earth elements (REE) industry for now, says Datuk Seri Johari Ghani. The acting natural resources and environmental sustainability minister said that during past discussions and stakeholder engagements, several states expressed objections to such a move. "They viewed the proposal as an attempt at the nationalisation of mineral resources that belong to the states. "As is well known, the management of petroleum resources beyond state waters is different from the management of land matters, which falls under state jurisdiction. "This is clearly stated in the Federal Constitution, Ninth Schedule, List II (State List), which provides that the states have jurisdiction over permits and licences for prospecting, mining leases, mining, and mining certificates," he said in his winding-up speech for the 13th Malaysia Plan. This comes after proposals by several members of parliament for the government to establish a regulatory agency, similar to Petronas, through the enactment of an REE Act to drive the development of the REE industry. Johari assured that the Federal Government fully respects state jurisdiction over land and mineral matters, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Accordingly, he said the government has formulated a clear long-term plan to develop the rare earth elements industry holistically, in line with the direction endorsed by the National Economic Action Council. "Any policies or mechanisms on REE revenue distribution will be formulated and decided inclusively through the National Mineral Council, which serves as the main platform for engagement and coordination between the federal and producing state governments. "This planning is based on the principle of close cooperation between the federal and state governments, to ensure that every initiative for the development of the REE industry takes into account state rights and jurisdiction as provided under the Constitution," he said. Malaysia, he said, is also still in discussions with China on technology transfer of REE to Malaysia. "We want to first see what they are doing. We will also conduct our own research, and only then sit down to decide what technologies we want to adopt. "We cannot depend solely on China, as Russia also has expertise, although they have not approached us. China, on the other hand, has offered, and they want to prove themselves to us. We will assess the outcomes and then discuss further," he said. When asked why the proof-of-concept phase in Kenering, Perak is taking up to five years, Johari clarified that big-scale mining usually takes more time to assess, especially on its impact towards the environment. He said he would visit the site soon to get updates from the scientists. He also clarified that Malaysia has never offered the export of raw REE as a concession or condition for tariff reduction in trade tariff negotiations with the United States. This also comes after several queries from MPs to the government about negotiations with the United States involving REE, given that the raw export ban is still in force. "NRES wishes to stress that, in trade tariff negotiations with the US government, Malaysia has never offered the export of raw REE as a concession or condition for tariff reduction.


New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Indonesia plans quick-to-build oil refineries for US crude, doubts persist
JAKARTA/SINGAPORE: Indonesia plans to build a network of small modular refineries to process US and domestic oil, aiming to reduce gasoline imports, but analysts warn the switch in strategy from large-scale refining facilities could prove uneconomical. The prefabricated refinery units, which can be constructed faster and more cheaply than traditional plants, will help Asia's largest importer of gasoline meet domestic demand and its commitment to increase US imports. Indonesia's focus on small refineries runs counter to the global trend of ever-larger crude processing facilities that maximise economies of scale, analysts say. Reuters reported last month that Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara planned to sign an US$8 billion contract with US engineering firm KBR Inc for 17 modular refineries, citing sources and an official economic ministry presentation. Danantara has not commented directly on the deal and KBR did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Indonesian officials confirmed the refinery plan, which was agreed as part of Indonesia's deal with Washington that includes a pledge to buy US$15 billion worth of US energy products for reduced tariffs on Indonesian goods. "We will import crude oil into Indonesia and that will require refineries that match the characteristics of US crude, so we invest accordingly," Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani told reporters at a conference last month, adding that details were still being discussed. Deputy Energy Minister Yuliot Tanjung said there were plans to locate the refineries close to oil production sites. Initial studies for modular infrastructure and oil storage facilities have been conducted in Natuna, Surabaya, North Halmahera and Fakfak, among others. The planned projects were among those proposed to Danantara for funding, Yuliot said. Indonesia's total oil and gas imports stood at US$36.28 billion in 2024, official data showed. FEASIBILITY CONCERNS Analysts have expressed caution over the feasibility of the strategy, citing Indonesia's historical challenges in expanding its refining capacity. Indonesia's Pertamina has plans to invest US$48 billion to upgrade six refineries and construct a large refining and petrochemical complex to double the state-owned firm's oil products output to 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd). Pertamina initially partnered with major global companies for the projects, but most of the partnerships were cancelled for various reasons, including disagreement over the value of projects, forcing Pertamina to conduct most of the expansion alone. Indonesia has not built a major refinery in 30 years. Pertamina's existing six refineries have a combined capacity of 1.06 million bpd, meeting around 60 per cent of domestic fuel demand. In 2022, Pertamina completed a first-phase upgrade at the Balongan refinery to increase capacity by 25,000 bpd, but the US$7.4 billion upgrade of the Balikpapan refinery under the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) is yet to be completed. A partnership with Rosneft to build a 300,000-bpd refinery and petrochemical complex in Tuban has faced delays due to sanctions on Russia over its war with Ukraine. "Building the 17 refineries seems quite ambitious considering that RDMP plans are also under way," said Pankaj Srivastava, senior vice president at Rystad Energy. Simple refineries can be completed in less than half the time of larger complexes and cost less, providing a "quick fix" and easing Indonesia's reliance on refined oil imports, but will not help the country achieve its goal to expand its petrochemical capacity, he said. Small refineries, typically with capacities of 50,000 bpd to 150,000 bpd, are generally simpler units without upgrading facilities, limiting economies of scale, said Adi Imsirovic, director at Surrey Clean Energy. Additionally, these projects - with a smaller feedstock requirement and terminal restrictions - will likely require the use of smaller vessels to import crude, raising costs significantly, said Sparta Commodities' senior analyst June Goh. She also warned that the arbitrage may not always be economical for US West Texas Intermediate crude.


The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Indonesia's ‘Gasoline Godfather' targetted in US$18bil graft probe
JAKARTA: A reclusive oil merchant dominated Indonesia's fuel trade for decades. Now he is embroiled in a US$18 billion probe into the country's state-owned oil producer that has become a litmus test for President Prabowo Subianto's anticorruption drive. Mohammad Riza Chalid (pic), who has long maintained high-level political ties, is known in the industry as the "Gasoline Godfather' for his key role in importing billions of dollars of oil products, mostly from neighbouring Singapore. His star has been waning - Indonesia wants to rely less on costly overseas purchases of gasoline or diesel - but he is the most audacious target to date for the current administration, as it reshuffles its energy procurement and attempts to supercharge growth in South-East Asia's largest economy. Though Indonesia was an early member of OPEC, oil production has declined sharply in recent decades, falling almost 60 per cent in the last quarter-century as fields age and investment falters, driving up its import bill. State oil-and-gas giant PT Pertamina has faced repeated criticism, including from Indonesia's parliament, for its inefficiency. It is now being investigated for irregularities over the import of crude and oil products between 2018 and 2023 that authorities say have cost the state 285 trillion rupiah, or roughly US$18 billion. The probe involves multiple companies, including at least one controlled by Chalid, according to statements made by the attorney general's office. "Prabowo wants to be seen as a clean president, the leader that is brave enough to eradicate corruption,' said Siwage Negara, a research fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. "This is one thing that the Prabowo administration needs to fix if they want to really improve the quality of governance within the state-owned enterprises.' The widening inquiry into Pertamina, its subsidiaries and trading companies - one of the biggest antigraft investigations in decades in Indonesia - has already resulted in the detention of more than a dozen executives, including Chalid's son, and the questioning of more than 250 witnesses. Chalid himself is alleged by the attorney general's office to be the beneficial owner of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, which authorities believe secured a long-term lease deal with Pertamina that enabled unjust enrichment through opaque fuel-storage contracts. His son, Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza, is listed in company filings as a major shareholder in OTM via a series of holding companies. Indonesia's attorney general has yet to formally charge Chalid, who has failed to appear after being summoned three times since the investigation into Pertamina and its subsidiaries began. Officials say immigration records show he left Indonesia in February for Malaysia. He has not made any public statement on the case, and has no known legal representative. A lawyer for the son, currently being detained, did not respond to requests from Bloomberg, but had previously told Tempo magazine that his client's business had "nothing to do with his parents.' Queries delivered in person to the registered office of OTM were not answered. Still, authorities have publicly named Chalid several times as a suspect in the sprawling case and earlier this month said they would seek a so-called Red Notice from Interpol. Such a notification is an international alert for a wanted person, not an arrest warrant. The process is currently still in train, according to the attorney general's office. Investigators have also seized assets they say are linked to Chalid, including a Toyota Alphard, a Mini Cooper, three Mercedes sedans and cash in multiple currencies. Pertamina Chief Executive Officer Simon Aloysius Mantiri, appointed by Prabowo last year, has apologised for the probe, without specifically addressing the details of the investigation. He said the firm welcomed the attorney general's actions and would work with the government to improve transparency. Corruption probes are not new to Indonesia, and Prabowo's 10-month-old government has already pursued several - two high-profile political figures, seen as opponents of his coalition and of the previous administration, were convicted of corruption-related offenses last year and granted clemency this month - but this is the first attempt to tackle a major state-owned entity and a businessman of Chalid's stature. Chalid's political links date back at least three decades to the era of authoritarian leader Suharto, when he is reported to have helped acquire a Russian Sukhoi jet. According to state news agency Antara, he was trusted to represent an arms purchasing company in order to secure the deal. He has not commented on the report. But it was through his oil trading business that Chalid made waves, leveraging his political connections to take an expansive role in Indonesia's imports of oil products, according to former associates and business partners who asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. Pertamina's Singapore-based trading arm, Pertamina Energy Trading Ltd., also known as Petral, was core to the trade - at the peak, companies affiliated with Chalid accounted for as much as 70 per cent of the unit's contracts, according to comments made by Sudirman Said, a former energy minister who commissioned a 2015 government audit into Petral, on a podcast last month. That audit, which covered Petral's operations from January 2012 to May 2015, found that intervention by third parties resulted in Pertamina paying higher prices for fuel and crude imports, according to then-CEO Dwi Soetjipto. The conclusions were reported to Indonesia's antigraft agency, but no case was ever launched against those involved. Petral, though, was shut down. Chalid, who is part of Indonesia's Arab minority, has never been a public figure, eschewing high-profile outings, but his fortune grew steadily - in 2016, business magazine GlobeAsia estimated his wealth at US$460 million. He invested widely, including in palm oil plantations and real estate. Among other bets, he is a significant shareholder of budget airline PT AirAsia Indonesia, corporate filings show. His political links grew accordingly, as he cultivated ties and welcomed politicians to his office in Jakarta's business district, according to former contacts. He helped finance Prabowo's first failed presidential bid in 2014, according to his former associates, though during a second campaign five years later he backed a party supporting Prabowo's opponent, and the ultimate victor, Joko Widodo. Still, his rise was predicated on Indonesia's heavy dependence on imported fuels. While it still produces significant volumes of crude, Indonesia has long lacked the refining capacity to meet more than 280 million people's demand for gasoline, diesel and other products. But Prabowo in particular had made reducing that vulnerability a priority, seeking to attract investment into onshore processing but more immediately cutting back on heavy reliance on Singapore - where Chalid and his profitable business were based, working out of a modest office. "We are importing fuel from a country that does not even produce it. That is funny,' Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told a conference in May. Some of those imports have been replaced with purchases from other countries including the US, with whom it struck a trade deal last month. Ultimately, the renewed push for energy self-reliance has left Chalid at odds with the government's targets. According to political analyst Kevin O'Rourke, it was a change that left "literally the biggest player' looking far less untouchable - just as a new government sought to make its mark. "The oil business has just been too stable, it's not been as dynamic as nickel and palm oil,' O'Rourke, principal at Jakarta-based consultancy Reformasi Information Services, said. "He's not the only game in town anymore.' - Bloomberg